Etihad Airways launches community outreach activities in Kenya

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, in collaboration with the National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD), today launched two community outreach activities in Kenya with donations of blankets and school supplies to the Dream Children’s Home, and the Children in Freedom organisation.

Located
between Ngong and Matasia just outside Nairobi, the Dream Children’s Home was
established by Rachel Gichia in 2004 to restore hope and support the basic
needs of orphans and vulnerable children in Kenya.

Blankets
were collected through the Blankets 4 Africa initiative, which collects donations
of used airline cabin blankets, toiletry bags and bedding, and works together with
The Order of Malta in Kenya, to distribute these to charities in Africa.

Mrs
Gichia welcomed the donation from Etihad Airways, saying: “This donation
represents the kindness and generosity of Etihad Airways, the National Bank of
Abu Dhabi, the Blankets 4 Africa Initiative and The Order of Malta in Kenya.
Their contribution will help in alleviating the suffering of the poor and the
vulnerable in Africa.

“The
Dream Children’s Home currently looks after nearly 100 children and this generosity
is highly appreciated by all.”

Linden
Coppell, Etihad Airways Head of Sustainability, said: “As an airline we are committed
to making a difference to the communities in which we operate. The Dream
Children’s Home and Children in Freedom organisation stand out as beacons of
hope for underprivileged children in Kenya and we are pleased to be able to
support these two important causes.”

Over
700 blankets were handed over to the orphanage during a visit to the Dream
Children’s Home attended by Hassan Issa Al Hosani, Minister
Plenipotentiary at the UAE Embassy in Kenya,
Joan Mwaniki, Etihad Airways’ General Manager, Kenya, Luzelle Boado Etihad
Airways’ Sustainability Officer and Priscilla Chomba, Etihad Airways’ Marketing
Coordinator in Kenya.

Nine
members of Etihad Airways’ iVolunteer initiative flew to Kenya to provide their
time and skills to support the activities which included the task of painting part
of the orphanage’s interior with paint donated by the British High Commission
in Kenya.

The
Children in Freedom organisation provides free education, mentorship and support
to over 40 young children in several schools in and around Nairobi that will
now benefit from the donation of school supplies including literature books and
writing materials.